Doctoral Studies Before You Start

The educational quality in the area of biosciences at the University of Heidelberg has always been among the highest. For even further improvement the Ph.D. program has been developed, giving you the best academic training possible.

To be eligible for this program, you have to meet one of the requirements listed:

• You have acquired a master of natural sciences (M.Sc.) in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or another natural science (e.g. chemistry, physics, or bio-engineering).
  If this master is not firmly bio-related, your supervisor might have to testify that you have sufficient working knowledge in your respective bio-topic.
• You have acquired a Staatsexamen in pharmacy or equivalent.
• The bachelor degree alone is generally not sufficient. In special cases, exceptions may be considered.
• Applicants with an M.Sc.degree in natural sciences awarded by a medical faculty may be accepted after passing an assessment test.
• Applicants with a degree in clinical medicine are not eligible. In special cases and with additional studies and after passing an assessment test exceptions may be considered.

Please visit the websites Doctoral studies in Heidelberg and Graduate Academy for further information about your Ph.D. in Heidelberg. The Graduate Academy provides services and support on many essential topics about your doctoral studies, for example:

 

• Good Scientific Practice (GSP): The aim is to support Ph.D. students with a general understanding of the good scientific practice and scientific misconduct (e.g. plagiarism). In the course, we discuss critical conflict areas and possible causes of misconduct. Furthermore, questions regarding data management, documentation, ownership, and topics such as the correct use of references and problem areas in the publication process are addressed. Please see the Graduate Academy's course program.
• Academic Writing Support: This service offers individual consultation and tutoring to Ph.D. students writing in English. The service is free of charge and aims to improve the language proficiency of Ph.D. students during the early stages of their doctoral training. You may submit your own text passages, which are then revised and commented on by native English speakers. Please see the writing support services website.
• Funding: Information and advice on doctoral fellowships and other funding opportunities for Ph.D. students is available on the website of the Graduate Academy, in the information brochure for Ph.D. students (International and German), or in person during the Graduate Academy office hours.